Soft display device for portable terminal

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a soft display device for a foldable portable terminal, the soft display device including a first and a second folding parts which have been coupled to each other in a foldable manner, and a soft display part comprising a physically exposed portion. Each of the first and second folding parts has first and second outer surfaces, and the first and second outer surfaces face in opposite directions to each other. The first outer surfaces of the first and second folding parts come in contact with each other when the first and second folding parts are folded together. The exposed portion is disposed over the second outer surfaces of the first and second folding parts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/512,009 filed on May 24, 2012, which is a 371application of PCT International Patent Application No.PCT/KR2009/06952, filed Nov. 24, 2009, which in turn claims priorityfrom Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2008-0116936, filed Nov. 24,2008, and 10-2009-0114213, filed Nov. 24, 2009, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a soft display device for portableterminal, more specifically, a soft display device for portable terminalwhich can further enlarge screen of the portable terminal (cellularphone, PMP, electronic dictionary, DMB, navigation, notebook, UMPC),thereby providing a user with a wider screen by using the soft displaymade of soft material to be flexible.

Nowadays it is a trend that the portable terminal become small-sized,slim and light weight considering its portability, thereby providingmore various contents. In particular, recently it is necessary toenlarge display of the portable device because the portable terminalsappear which can realize various functions such as internet searchesetc. For example, the portable is launched in accordance with a trend ofputting importances on various entertainment contents such as games anddocumentary works using spread sheet with the portable terminal.

Such a conventional portable terminal is illustrated FIGS. 1 and 2described hereinbelow.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional portableterminal, and FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the conventionalportable terminal.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional portable terminal comprisesa main body (200) on which key pads etc. are installed, display (101)outputting images and support means (102) supporting the display (101)so that it can be moved.

Here, the display (101) is accommodated in central portion of the mainbody (200), can be moved in forward/backward directions, and outputcertain images according to control signal applied from the main body(200).

The main body (200) comprises at its central portion a accommodatingpart (201) in which the display (101) is accommodated, and on uppersurfaces at right and left sides of the accommodating part (201) aredisposed key pads which can output respective commanding words ifoperated by a user.

The support means (102) are fixed to both side surfaces of the display(101), and move the display (101) while sliding inside the main body(200) and support the display (101) in a state of the display havingbeen moved.

Namely, if the user pushes the display (101) of the conventionalportable terminal in one direction from a state of the display beingaccommodated in the accommodating part (201) of the main body (200), thesupport means (102) slidably inserted inside the main body (200) aremoved and accordingly the display (101) is moved.

Here, the main body (200) is exposed on its upper surface as the display(101) is moved, and in the conventional portable terminal there is acase that a separate display is installed in order to provide morevarious functions.

However, the display of such a conventional portable terminal has anadvantage that its screen is divided into upper and lower parts andtherefore can output different images, but it has a fundamental problemthat the user see images through still small screen since it can notovercome disadvantage associated with size of the portable terminal.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of theprior art described above, and its object is to provide a soft displaydevice for portable terminal which allows images to be output throughmore enlarged screen than a portable terminal having the same size byusing a soft display device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a soft displaydevice for portable terminal where pushing in and withdrawing of thesoft display is made easy by accommodating and fixing the soft displayinside the portable terminal and connecting it with the inside of themain body of the portable terminal in the portable terminal equippedwith the soft display.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a soft displaydevice for portable terminal which can provide a wider screen than thatof the portable terminal having small-sized screen such as folder-typeterminal.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a soft displaydevice for portable terminal which allows for various applicationsaccording to shape of the portable terminal and reduction ofmanufacturing cost by applying display combining soft material and rigidmaterial so that manufacturing cost of the expensive soft display can bereduced.

The present invention includes the following examples in order toachieve the above-mentioned objects.

A first example according to the present invention is characterized inthat the soft display device for portable terminal of the presentinvention comprises a housing inside which an empty space is formed; adisplay part at least one soft display of which is exposed on uppersurface of the housing and extends to the inside of the housing to beaccommodated therein so that it can be withdrawn; and support partswhich support the soft display accommodated inside the housing.

A second example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the first example, the support parts comprise a connectingmeans which is connected with one end portion of the soft displayaccommodated inside the housing; a rotating means which is formed of arotatable shaft and an outer surface fixed to one end portion of theconnecting means and allows the soft display to be pushed in andwithdrawn by pulling or releasing the connecting means by rotation ofthe rotatable shaft; and catch grooves on both inner side surfaces ofthe housing formed of grooves in which projections projected from sidesurfaces of the soft display are catched, thereby stopping movement ofthe soft display.

A third example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the first example, the support parts further comprise arotating means which elastically support the soft display by having arotatable shaft rotated with elastic force and including an outersurface on which one end portion of the soft display accommodated insidethe housing is fixed and rolled; and catch grooves on inner sidesurfaces of the housing formed of grooves in which projections projectedfrom both side surfaces of the soft display or both side surfaces of alower slider are catched, thereby stopping movement of the soft display.

A fourth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in any one of the first to third examples, the soft display devicefurther comprises at least one of a upper slider which guides movementof the soft display while being fixed on back surface of the softdisplay and slidably engaged with the upper surface of the housing sothat it can be moved thereon; and a lower slider which is fixed on backsurface of the soft display accommodated inside the housing and slideson inner upper surface of the housing, thereby guiding the soft display.

A fifth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the fourth example, the upper slider and the upper surface ofthe housing have concavo-convex form for engaging with each other andthe upper slider can slide while engaging with the upper surface, andthe lower slider and the inner upper surface of the housing haveconcavo-convex form for engaging with each other and the lower slidercan slide while engaging with the inner upper surface.

A sixth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the fifth example, the upper and lower sliders haveconcavo-convex structures of trapezoid shape.

A seventh example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the sixth example of the soft display device for portableterminal, both end portions extending to both sides from the softdisplay exposed on the upper surface of the housing, respectively aresupported by the support parts so that the both end portions can bepushed into the inside of the housing and moved, respectively.

A eighth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the sixth example, a first soft display and a second displayare combined with each other, which comprise the housing, the upper orlower slider, and the support parts, respectively.

A ninth example according to the present invention is such that in afolder-type portable terminal comprising the soft display deviceaccording to any one of the first to eighth examples, the soft displayis formed while extending from inner surface of the folder rotated upand downward to open and close upper surface of a main body to uppersurface of the main body or from outer surface of the folder to outersurface of the main body.

A tenth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the nineth example, an area made of rigid material and an areamade of soft material are integrated in the soft display.

As described above, the soft display device for portable terminalaccording to the present invention provides a wider screen by equippingthe portable terminal with the soft display and thus the user canfurther enjoy contents provided by service providers, and therefore sucheffects are obtained that the soft display device of the presentinvention contributes to the increases of conveniences of users andsales of service providers.

Furthermore, the present invention has another effect that pushing inand withdrawing of the soft display is made easy by accommodating andfixing the soft display inside the portable terminal and connecting itwith a string or foldable connecting means fixed inside the main body ofthe portable terminal in the portable terminal equipped with the softdisplay.

Furthermore, the present invention has yet another effect that anenlarged screen can be provided even in a small-sized terminal since arestricted screen in a folder-type terminal can be enlarged from thefolder to the main body by using the soft display.

Furthermore, the present invention has yet another effect thatmanufacturing cost is reduced and more applications are made possibleaccording to shape of the housing or the types of the portable terminalssince display consisting of rigid material and soft material is mountedon the portable terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional portableterminal.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the conventional portable terminal.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a soft display device forportable terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the soft display device for portableterminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically illustrating an example ofengagement structure of the soft display in the soft display device forportable terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a fixing structure for the softdisplay in the soft display device for portable terminal according tothe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating a second example of thesoft display device for portable terminal according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are plane views for explaining operations of the secondexample of the soft display device for portable terminal according tothe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional folder-typeportable terminal for the purpose of explaining a third example of thesoft display device for portable terminal according to the presentinvention by comparison.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views illustrating the third example ofthe soft display device for portable terminal according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are views illustrating a fourth example of the softdisplay device for portable terminal according to the present invention.

LISTS OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   -   100: display part    -   110: soft display    -   121: upper slider    -   122: lower slider    -   130: connecting means    -   140: rotating means    -   200: main body    -   210: housing    -   211: withdrawing hole    -   212: upper surface of housing    -   213: inner upper surface of housing

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention includes the following examples in order toachieve the above-mentioned objects.

A first example according to the present invention is characterized inthat the soft display device for portable terminal of the presentinvention comprises a housing inside which an empty space is formed; adisplay part at least one soft display of which is exposed on uppersurface of the housing and extends to the inside of the housing to beaccommodated therein so that it can be withdrawn; and support partswhich support the soft display accommodated inside the housing.

A second example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the first example, the support parts comprise a connectingmeans which is connected with one end portion of the soft displayaccommodated inside the housing; and a rotating means which is formed ofa rotatable shaft rotated by elastic force of a spring and an outersurface fixed to one end portion of the connecting means and allows thesoft display to be pushed in and withdrawn by pulling or releasing theconnecting means by rotation of the rotatable shaft.

A third example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the first example, the support parts further comprise arotating means which elastically support the soft display by having arotatable shaft rotated by elastic force of a spring and including anouter surface on which one end portion of the soft display accommodatedinside the housing is fixed and rolled; and catch grooves on inner sidesurfaces of the housing formed of grooves in which projections projectedfrom both side surfaces of the soft display or both side surfaces of alower slider are catched, thereby stopping movement of the soft display.

A fourth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in any one of the first to third examples, the soft display devicefurther comprises at least one of a upper slider which guides movementof the soft display while being fixed on back surface of the softdisplay and slidably engaged with the upper surface of the housing sothat it can be moved thereon; and a lower slider which is fixed on backsurface of the soft display accommodated inside the housing and slideson inner upper surface of the housing, thereby guiding the soft display.

A fifth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the fourth example, the upper slider and the upper surface ofthe housing have concavo-convex form for engaging with each other andthe upper slider can slide while engaging with the upper surface, andthe lower slider and the inner upper surface of the housing haveconcavo-convex form for engaging with each other and the lower slidercan slide while engaging with the inner upper surface.

A sixth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the fifth example, the upper and lower sliders haveconcavo-convex structures of trapezoid shape.

A seventh example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the sixth example of the soft display device for portableterminal, both end portions extending to both sides from the softdisplay exposed on the upper surface of the housing, respectively aresupported by the support parts so that the both end portions can bepushed into the inside of the housing and moved, respectively.

A eighth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the sixth example, a first soft display and a second displayare combined with each other, which comprise the housing, the upper orlower slider, and the support parts, respectively.

A ninth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the portable terminal equipped with a folder rotated up anddownward and a main body, the soft display of the soft display devicefor portable terminal according to the first to eighth examples isformed while extending from inner surface of the folder rotated up anddownward to open and close upper surface of a main body to upper surfaceof the main body or from outer surface of the folder to outer surface ofthe main body.

A tenth example according to the present invention is characterized inthat, in the nineth example, an area made of rigid material and an areamade of soft material are integrated in the soft display.

Hereinbelow, preferred examples of the soft display device for portableterminal according to the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the soft display device forportable terminal according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is aside sectional view of the soft display device for portable terminalaccording to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the soft display device for portableterminal according to the present invention has a display part (100) anda main body (200). The display part (100) is a soft display, one endportion of which can be pushed in and withdrawn inside the main body(200), and the other portion of which is exposed on upper surface of themain body (200). The main body (200) comprises a housing (210); supportparts (at least one of “130” and “140”) which support one portion of thesoft display (110) accommodated inside the housing (210) so that theportion can be moved and accommodated; a upper slider (121) whichsupports the exposed portion of the soft display (110) on upper surface(212) of the housing (210) so that the portion can be slidingly moved;and a lower slider (122) which supports the other portion of the softdisplay (110) accommodated inside the main body (200) on inner uppersurface (213) of the housing (210) so that the other portion can bemoved.

The soft display (110) includes the portion exposed to the outside onthe upper surface of the housing (210) and the other portion formedwhile extending from the exposed portion to the inside of the housing(210), and extends onto the upper surface (212) of the housing (210)while being bent inside the housing (210) due to property of itsmaterial. Therefore, if a user pushes one side of the soft display (110)exposed on the upper surface (212) of the housing (210), the softdisplay (110) is moved in one direction, thus the other sideaccommodated inside the housing (210) is withdrawn to be moved onto theupper surface (212) of the housing (210).

Here, for the soft display, a display of rigid material consisting ofOLED or LCD and a soft display of soft material are integrated into asingle display, which is applicable to the present invention. Namely, byway of example, to the present invention is applicable a display ofcomposite material in which the area of the display of soft material isformed while extending from the area of the display of rigid material ina single display. Description thereof is as follows. The area of thedisplay of rigid material is positioned on the upper surface (212) ofthe housing (210), and the area of the display of soft material formedwhile extending from the display of rigid material is accommodatedinside the housing and can be bent when moved, thereby allowing the areaof the display to be enlarged.

Therefore, the user can see image through a larger screen by operatingimage output-commanding key (not illustrated) in a state that both ofthe portion exposed on the upper surface (212) of the housing (210) andthe display accommodated inside the housing (210) are exposed on theupper surface (212) of the housing (210).

The housing (210) is made of plastic and the like constituting theoutside of the main body (200) and an empty space is formed inside thehousing. Here, the housing (210) comprises an engagement structure wherethe housing engages with the upper slider (121) on the upper surface(212) so that the upper slider can be moved, and engages with the lowerslider (122) on the inner upper surface (213) so that the lower slidercan be moved. This structure is the same as illustrated in FIG. 5described hereinbelow, and the upper slider, the lower slider and thehousing will be described with reference to FIG. 5 together with FIGS. 3and 4.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically illustrating an example of theengagement structure of the soft display in the soft display device forportable terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the housing (210) is formed on its upper surface(212) with concavo-convex grooves with which the upper slider (121)movably engages, and on its inner upper surface (213) withconcavo-convex grooves with which the lower slider (122) movablyengages. Here, the concavo-convex grooves are characterized by itstrapezoid shape.

The upper slider (121) is fixed to back surface of one end portion inthe soft display (110), and slidably engages with the concavo-convexgrooves of the upper surface (212) of the housing (210). Namely, theupper slider (121) is formed on its lower surface with concavo-convexgrooves which engage with the concavo-convex structure of the uppersurface (212) of the housing so that the upper slider can be moved.Therefore, if the user applies force to the one side exposed on theupper surface (212) of the housing (210), the upper slider slides alongthe upper surface (212) of the housing (210) while at the same timesupporting the soft disply (110). Here, it is preferable to add a catchconstruction by which the movement of the upper slider is blocked if theupper slider reaches a pre-determined position on the upper surface ofthe housing.

Namely, for concavo-convex-type moving structure of the upper slider andthe upper surface of the housing, it is preferable to form catch grooves(not illustrated) at end portion of the upper surface of the housing andon the upper slider add projections (not illustrated) which is catchedin the catch grooves of the upper surface of the housing. In general, itis possible to apply the known prior art to a fixing structure of theupper slider (121) described above, thus detailed description thereofwill be omitted.

The lower slider (122) includes concavo-convex grooves engaging with theconcavo-convex grooves of the inner upper surface (213) of the housing(210) and supports pushing-in and withdrawing of the soft display (110)while sliding along the inner upper surface (213) of the housing (210).Therefore, the lower slider (122) supports the soft display (110) whilesliding at the same time as movement of the soft display (110). At thispoint, the soft display (110) is withdrawn to the outside through awithdrawing hole (211) of the housing (210).

Here, it is possible to install only any one of the upper slider (121)and the lower slider (122), and the both sliders are installed togetherto guide movement of the soft display (110) and support the display soas to maintain an enlarged shape resulting from completion ofwithdrawing of the soft display (110).

Furthermore, the present invention comprises the support parts (130,140) which elastically support the soft display (110) so that the softdisplay (110) described above can be pushed in and withdrawn, which isthe same as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, the support parts comprise a connecting means (130)which is connected with the other end portion of the soft display insidethe housing (210) and a rotating means (140) which comprises a rotatableshaft (not illustrated) connected with the opposite end portion of theconnecting means (130) and can be rotated by elastic force.

Here, the connecting means (130) is a string or a foldable rod, and atits one end portion is connected with the other end portion of the softdisplay (110) accommodated inside the housing (210) so that it can bemoved and at its opposite end portion is fixed to outer surface of therotating means (140) and applies force to the soft display (110)according to rotational direction of the rotating means (140).

The rotating means (140) pulls the soft display (110) with a constantforce according to rotational direction of rotatable shaft (notillustrated) having the elastic force. Therefore, the rotating means(140) rotates in forward direction for example to release the connectingmeans (130) when the soft display (110) is withdrawn, and pulls theconnecting means (130) with the elastic force of the rotating means(140) if the soft display (110) applies opposite directional force whilereturning to its original position.

Here, the rotating means (140) has spring (not illustrated) therewithinand the spring is contracted or expanded according to the rotationaldirection, thus applies the elastic force so that the rotatable shaftcan rotate in forward/backward directions.

Here, according to another example of the present invention, it ispossible to roll the other end portion itself of the soft display (110)on the outer surface of the rotating means (140) instead of providingthe connecting means (130). Namely, as described above, though the softdisplay (110) comprises a construction where it is returned by theelastic force of the rotating means (140) by means of the connectingmeans (130), according to another example, the other end portion of thesoft display (110) may be rolled on the outer surface of the rotatingmeans (140), and such a construction also falls within the scope oftechnical concepts of the present invention.

In addition, in the present invention, since the connecting means (130)is pulled at the time of moving of the lower slider (122) as describedabove, the rotating means (140) releases the connecting means (130)while rotating in one direction. At this point, it is preferable to adda catch construction which blocks the movement of the soft display (110)or the lower slider (122) inside the housing (210) since the softdisplay (110) is returned to its original position by the elastic forceof the rotating means (140) if the movement of the soft display (110) iscompleted,

Namely, for example, it is preferable that projections (not illustrated)are provided on both side surfaces of the soft display (110) or bothside surfaces of the lower slider, respectively and on inner sidesurfaces of the housing (210) are provided catch grooves (notillustrated) in which the projections are catched.

Therefore, if the soft display (110) or the lower slider (122) reaches apre-determined position, the projections (not illustrated) disposed onthe both side surfaces are catched in the catch grooves (notillustrated), thus even though the user does not apply force to the softdisplay (110), the soft display (110) or the lower slider (122) isprevented from returning to its original position by the elastic forceof the rotating means (140).

On the contrary, if the user moves the soft display (110) in theopposite direction, the projections (not illustrated) catched in thecatch grooves (not illustrated) is released therefrom, thus the softdisplay (110) returns to its original position by the elastic force ofthe rotating means (140). Here, though constructions of the projectionsand the catch grooves described above are not illustrated in thedrawings, it can be embodied in the present invention and generally theknown catch construction for the slider can be applied, thus drawing anddescription regarding its detailed construction will be omitted.

The present invention is characterized in that image part outputtingimages of the portable terminal (cellular phone, electronic dictionary,notebook, PMP, navigation, DMB) provides wider screen compared prior artthrough the soft display, and for this purpose has proved that thetechnical skills described above is realizable construction by includingstructure of accommodating and supporting the soft display describedabove. Furthermore, in the present invention, such various examples asfollows can be constructed based on the above-mentioned technicalconcepts.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating a second example of thesoft display device for portable terminal according to the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the second example of the present invention canprovide a wider screen than that provided by the soft display of thepreferred example described above in detail. For the sake ofdescription, the soft display (110) having longer length than that ofthe housing (210) of the main body (200) divides the area positioned onthe upper surface (212) of the housing (210) into a first surface (a)and a second surface (b), and comprises a first side (a′) which extendsfrom the first surface (a) to one side and can be pushed in andwithdrawn inside the housing (210) and a second side (b′) which extendsfrom the second surface (b) to the other side and can be pushed in andwithdrawn inside the housing (210).

Here, the first side (a′) and the second side (b′) are supported insidethe housing (210) by separate support parts (130, 140), respectively.

The first side (a′) is supported by a first upper slider (121 a) and afirst lower slider (122 a) on the upper surface (212) and the innerupper surface (213) of the housing (210), respectively, and the secondside (b′) is supported by a second upper slider (121 b) and a secondlower slider (122 b), respectively. In addition, the first side (a′) andthe second side (b′) are connected with different connecting means(130), respectively and supported by the elastic force of the rotatingmeans (140) or also may be supported in a state that both end portionsof the soft display (110) are rolled on the outer surface of therotating means (140).

FIGS. 8 and 9 are plane view for explaining operations of the secondexample of the soft display device for portable terminal according tothe present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, as illustrated, the soft display accordingto the present invention can divide the portion exposed on the uppersurface (212) of the housing (210) into the first surface (a) and thesecond surface (b), respectively. Here, the first side (a′) and thesecond side (b′) are in a state of being accommodated inside the housing(210), which can not be identified in FIG. 8. However, if the userwithdraws the first side (a′) and the second side (b′), as describedabove, the first and second sides are withdrawn by operations of thesupport parts (130, 140), the upper sliders (121 a, 121 b) and the lowersliders (122 a, 122 b) as illustrated in FIG. 9, thereby being exposedwhile extending from both sides of the first surface (a) and the secondsurface (b), respectively.

Therefore, the user can be provided with image service through a widerscreen compared with screen provided by the preferred example describedabove.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional folder-typeportable terminal for the purpose of explaining a third example of thesoft display device for portable terminal according to the presentinvention by comparison.

Referring to FIG. 10, in general, the folder-type cellular phone isequipped with a display (110) in the folder (100 a) as illustrated, andthe display outputs images, and the main body (200) is equipped with keypads for user's operation. In such a folder-type cellular phone, thesize of the folder itself is small in nature, thus there is no choicebut to provide a small screen. However, in the present invention, it ispossible to embody a construction shown in FIG. 11 by means of thesupport parts (130, 140), sliders (121, 122) and the soft display (110)described above.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views illustrating a third example ofthe soft display device for portable terminal according to the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the third example of the present inventionhas a soft display (110) extending in one piece from upper side of thefolder (100 a) to lower side of the main body (200) in the folder-typecellular phone. Here, if the folder (100 a) is rotated from a state thatthe soft display is accommodated while pushed into the inside of themain body (200) and the folder (100 a) at end portions of upper side ofthe folder and lower side of the main body (200), both portions of thesoft display accommodated inside the folder and the main body (200) arewithdrawn, thereby providing a wider screen.

In the present invention, it is possible that the soft display is formedwhile extending from the inside of the folder (100 a) to the main body(200) as illustrated, and in addition, as illustrated in FIG. 12, thesoft display (110) is provided outside the folder (100 a) and the mainbody (200), which also falls within the scope of the technical conceptsof the present invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are views illustrating a fourth example of the softdisplay device for portable terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the fourth example of the presentinvention shows a construction where at least one soft display device(110 a, 110 b) are combined which are supported inside the housing (210)by the support parts (130, 140) described above so that it can be pushedin and withdrawn. Namely, in the present invention, the first softdisplay (110 a) and the second soft display (110 b) may be combined witheach other at one side of each of them to be mounted on a singleportable terminal.

For the sake of detailed description, the first soft display (110 a) andthe second soft display (110 b) are independent soft displays and in astate of being combined with each other at one surface of each of them.Furthermore, any one of the first soft display (110 a) and the secondsoft display (110 b) is supported by the support parts (130, 140) andthe upper slider (122) or the lower slider (123) inside the housing(210) or the main body (200) described above of the respective displaydevice.

Therefore, if the user withdraws one portion (110 a′, 110 b′) of each ofthe first soft display (110 a) and the second soft display (110 b)accommodated inside the housing (210) by moving the two soft displays,the first soft display (110 a) and the second soft display (110 b) canbe enlarged in any one direction as seen in FIG. 13.

As described above, the present invention can enlarge the screen of theportable terminal by using the soft display, thereby providing the userwith enlarged screen, and thus one can further enjoy contents providedby service providers and therefore the present invention is very useful.

The present invention is not limited to the preferred examples havingfeatures described above, and it goes without saying that the personshaving ordinary skills in the art may implement the present invention bymodification thereof without departing from gist of the presentinvention defined by the claims, and such modification also falls withinthe scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A soft display device for a foldable portableterminal, the soft display device comprising: a first and a secondfolding parts which have been coupled to each other in a foldablemanner; and a soft display part comprising a physically exposed portion;wherein each of the first and second folding parts has a first and asecond outer surfaces, and the first and second outer surfaces face inopposite directions to each other, wherein, when the first and secondfolding parts are folded together, the first outer surfaces of the firstand second folding parts come in contact with each other, and whereinthe exposed portion is disposed over the second outer surfaces of thefirst and second folding parts.
 2. The soft display device of claim 1,wherein the first and second folding parts are folded together through ahinge.
 3. The soft display device of claim 1, wherein an connectingmeans is connected to one side or both sides of the soft display devicein order to prevent the exposed portion of the soft display device frombeing spaced in the direction farther away from a folding axis when thefirst and second folding parts are folded or unfolded, the connectingmeans is an elastic device.
 4. The soft display device of claim 3, theelastic device comprises a string or a foldable rod.
 5. The soft displaydevice of claim 1, the soft display device further comprises a sliderwhich is withdrawn from at least one of the first and second foldingparts.
 6. The soft display device of claim 1, wherein the soft displaypart further comprises an unexposed portion which extends from theexposed portion and is received in the first and/or second folding partssuch that the first and/or second folding parts are withdrawn to bebent.
 7. The soft display device of claim 3 or 6, further comprising asupport part which supports the unexposed portion such that the exposedportion is pushed in or withdrawn inside or outside the first and/orsecond folding parts.
 8. The soft display device of claim 3 or 6,wherein the unexposed portion is pushed in or withdrawn inside oroutside the first and/or second folding parts when the first and secondfolding parts are folded together.
 9. The soft display device of claim7, wherein the support part comprises a connecting means having one endportion connected to the unexposed portion, and a rotating meansconnected to another end portion of the connecting means so as to pullor release the connecting means.
 10. The soft display device of claim 7,wherein the support part comprises a rotating means connected to theunexposed portion in order to pull or release the unexposed portion. 11.The soft display device of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprisinga first slider disposed on one side or both sides between the secondouter surfaces of the first and/or second folding parts and the exposedportion of the soft display part.
 12. A soft display device for afoldable portable terminal, the soft display device comprising: a firstand a second folding parts which have been coupled to each other in afoldable manner; and a soft display part comprising a physically exposedportion; wherein each of the first and second folding parts has a firstand a second outer surfaces, and the first and second outer surfacesface in opposite directions to each other, wherein, when the first andsecond folding parts are folded together, the first outer surfaces ofthe first and second folding parts come in contact with each other, andwherein the exposed portion is disposed over the first outer surfaces ofthe first and second folding parts, wherein a connecting device isconnected to one side or both sides of the soft display part in order toprevent the exposed portion of the soft display part from being spacedin the direction farther away from a folding axis when the first andsecond folding parts are folded or unfolded, and wherein the connectingdevice is an elastic device.
 13. A soft display device for a foldableportable terminal, the soft display device comprising: a first and asecond folding parts which have been coupled to each other in a foldablemanner; and a soft display part comprising a physically exposed portion;wherein each of the first and second folding parts has a first and asecond outer surfaces, and the first and second outer surfaces face inopposite directions to each other, wherein, when the first and secondfolding parts are folded together, the first outer surfaces of the firstand second folding parts come in contact with each other, and whereinthe exposed portion is disposed over the first outer surfaces of thefirst and second folding parts, and the soft display device furthercomprising a slider which is withdrawn from at least one of the first orsecond folding parts.
 14. A soft display device for a foldable portableterminal, the soft display device comprising: a first and a secondfolding parts which have been coupled to each other in a foldablemanner; and a soft display part comprising a physically exposed portion;wherein each of the first and second folding parts has a first and asecond outer surfaces, and the first and second outer surfaces face inopposite directions to each other, wherein, when the first and secondfolding parts are folded together, the first outer surfaces of the firstand second folding parts come in contact with each other, and whereinthe exposed portion is disposed over the first outer surfaces of thefirst and second folding parts, wherein the soft display part furthercomprises an unexposed portion which extends from the exposed portionand is received in the first and/or second folding parts such that thefirst and/or second folding parts are withdrawn to be bent.
 15. The softdisplay device of any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising asupport part which supports the unexposed portion such that the exposedportion is pushed in or withdrawn inside or outside the first and/orsecond folding parts.
 16. The soft display device of any one of claims12 to 14, wherein the unexposed portion is pushed in or withdrawn insideor outside the first and/or second folding parts when the first andsecond folding parts are folded together.
 17. The soft display device ofclaim 16, wherein the support part comprises a connecting means havingone end portion connected to the unexposed portion, and a rotating meansconnected to another end portion of the connecting means so as to pullor release the elastic device.
 18. The soft display device of claim 17,wherein the elastic device comprises a string or a foldable rod.
 19. Thesoft display device of claim 14, wherein the support part comprises arotating means connected to the unexposed portion in order to pull orrelease the unexposed portion.
 20. The soft display device of any one ofclaim 12 to 14 or 18, further comprising a first slider disposed on oneside or both sides between the second outer surfaces of the first and/orsecond folding parts and the exposed portion of the soft display part.21. A soft display device for a foldable portable terminal, the softdisplay device comprising: a first and a second folding parts which havebeen coupled to each other in a foldable manner; and a soft display partcomprising a physically exposed portion substantially in the outersurface of the first or second folding part; wherein each of the firstand second folding parts has a first and a second outer surfaces, andthe first and second outer surfaces face in opposite directions to eachother, and wherein, when the first and second folding parts are foldedtogether, the display part of the exposed portion extends from the outersurface of any one of the folding parts of the first and second foldingparts to a receiving part of the other folding parts, or the displaypart of the exposed portion extends from the first outer surface of anyone of the folding parts to the second outer surface of any one of thefolding part.
 22. The soft display device of claim 21, furthercomprising a slider disposed on the exposed portion of the soft displaypart.
 23. The soft display device of claim 21, wherein one end of thesoft display part is connected to the elastic device.
 24. The softdisplay device of claim 23, wherein the elastic device comprises astring or a foldable rod.